Walter R. Long

Walter R. Long

Sep 9, 1927 - Dec 11, 2012

Walter's Memorial Service will be streamed live at www.allsoulschurch.org. Select Home at top menu. Click on "Watch Us Live" on the left at 1:00 Thur., Jan. 3, Central Standard Time.

Walter Royston Long of Tulsa died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Walter was born September 9, 1927, in St. Joseph, Missouri to Cecil Morgan and Mary Cunningham Long. He graduated high school in Graham, Missouri and earned his B.S. in accounting at the University of Missouri in Columbia. At an early age Walter acquired a life-long love of and appreciation for music and the arts as he studied clarinet, saxophone, journalism, and drama, played in honors bands, orchestras, and quartets throughout high school and college and won many awards. In 1949 Walter moved to Tulsa to begin his career as a Certified Public Accountant. He was employed by Pure Milk Producers Milk Co-op until 1969 when he moved to Houston, Texas to work for the Market Administrator’s Office, returned to Tulsa in 1971 to continue his work with the Market Administrator’s Office until retirement.

Walter was a passionate advocate of the Arts. Organizations of which he was a donor and supporter include: OK Mozart, Tulsa Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Chamber Music, Signature Symphony, and Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, and Vail and Aspen Music Festivals.

He volunteered both time and resources to many worthwhile organizations promoting wellbeing in the Tulsa community. As a member of All Souls Unitarian Church since 1959, he served on the church board and as treasurer for many years. He served on the board of Timothy Day Care and was part of the effort to bring quality early childhood education to the youngest of Tulsa's citizens before Head Start and other government programs were available.

Walter volunteered his time and worked tirelessly each tax season, for more than 25 years, offering CPA services free of charge to thousands of families in Tulsa through the AARP program at Bell Elementary School Annex. He also served as the treasurer of his condo association at Liberty Towers.

In addition to Art and Music, Walter enjoyed bowling, bridge, photography, golf, fishing, sailing, travel, and especially spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his sister Marcia Long Smith, his nephew Scott Edward Smith and wife Tami, nieces Toni Ogden and husband Wayne, and Jennifer Turner and husband Doug, great niece Carla Waterfield, and nephews Jeffery Ogden, Christopher Schutz, Brandon Schutz, and Christopher Hembree; great-great niece Brittany Hembree and great-great nephews Sterling and Devon Waterfield, Alden and Abram Schutz, and Samuel and Campbell Schutz.

The memory of Walter’s kindness, quiet strength, generosity, helpfulness, love of family, friends and community will be cherished by all who knew him.

A service and reception to celebrate Walter's life will take place: 1:00 PM, January 3, 2013 at All Souls Unitarian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Walter’s memory may be made to Hospice of Green Country.